Liquid soap dispenser



Jan. 25, 1966 J. o. CONVERSE 3,231,145

LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER Filed Nov. 21, 1963 FIE. l

INVENTOR J'amv 0. CONVERSE jzymi/m Arramvsx:

United States Patent 3,231,145 LlQUlD SOAP DISPENSER John O. Converse, 6468 Upton Ave. S., Minneapolis 23, Minn. Filed Nov. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 325,304 4 Claims. (Cl. 222--212) This invention relates generally to liquid soap dispensing devices, and pertains more particularly to a plastic container having slits therein through which the soap is gravitationally discharged when the walls of the container are deformed slightly by the users hands.

One object of the invention is to provide a liquid soap dispenser intended to replace hand soap. One of the disadvantages attending the use of hand soap is that there is usually a messy condition on the hand soap and on the soap holder resulting for a period of time after each use, the period depending upon how long it takes for the soap to completely dry and even then there is a visible soap film usually remaining. An aim of the present invention, however, provides a plurality of slits which automatically close after each dispensing operation so that there is no leakage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for liquid soap which will not diminish in size as is the situation with respect to ordinary bar or cake soap.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for liquid soap that will be used exactly like a bar or cake of soap. In this regard, it is planned that only a gentle deformation of the walls of the container by the hands of the user when washing will be necessary in order to effect a desired and controlled amount of soap discharge into the hands.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser for liquid soap which will not require any packaging, for the dispensing slits can readily be held closed by sections of pressure sensitive tape applied thereover at the factory. These sections of tape can be easily removed by the consumer, yet will assure an effective seal prior to actual use. Consequently, it is not requierd that the dispenser be marketed in any package other than the container itself.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a liquid soap dispenser that can be held in any position and still have the liquid soap dispensed properly. Stated somewhat differently, it is an aim of the invention to so locate the slits that the user will not have to consider the orientation of the dispenser when he picks it up, any position affording adequate gravitational flow of the liquid soap when the walls of the container are deformed slightly.

The invention has for a still further object the provision of a soap dispenser that wiil be so inexpensive to manufacture that the over-all cost of the dispenser and liquid soap, the liquid soap being cheaper than the bar or cake type, will not be priced at the retail level at any higher figure than the ordinary soaps now purchased.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a liquid soap dispenser that can be attractively decorated, such as by making the plastic material multicolored.

Also, it is within the purview of the invention to permit the adding of advertising matter that will remain for the life of the dispenser. For instance, the manufacturer can place his trademark on the container and the user will be constantly reminded of the manufacturer, thereby encouraging the user to purchase that particular type of soap again.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a liquid soap dispenser that will float in water, yet not dissolve and therefore decrease in size. In other words,

3,231,145 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 there will be no depletion of soap when taking a bath, this being particularly desirable when children are involved.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FEGURE 1 is a perspective view showing my liquid soap dispenser in actual use;

FIGURE 2 is what can be considered a top plan view of the device shown in FIGURE 1, although it will be understood that the dispenser can be held in. various positions;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view corresponding to FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4- is an end view corresponding to FlGURE 3, and

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view showing the dispenser held in a vertical position so that one side is lowermost, the slits in said side being flexed into an open position for the gravitational discharging of liquid soap therethrough.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, my liquid soap dispenser has been designated generally by the reference numeral 10. Since the dispenser 10 will normally be held in the users hands, a persons left hand has been indicated by the reference numeral 12. and the persons right hand by the reference numeral 14 in FIGURE 1. As the description progresses, it will become obvious that the dispenser 10 can be held in various positions and that the specific orientation is unimportant as far as effecting a gravitational discharge of the dispensers contents.

Describing the dispenser it) in more detail, it will be perceived that the dispenser constitutes a resilient and deformable container having top and bottom walls 16 and 18 (see FIGURE 4 for the bottom wall 18), opposite side walls 29 and opposite end walls 22. It is contemplated that the container constituting the dispenser will be generally of the same size as a cake of soap. Further, in its preferred form, the dispenser would be fabricated from polyethylene having a wall thickness of about 1, inch. It will be appreciated, though, that the dispenser can be made so inexpensively that it is not intended for reuse. In this way, the dispenser can have a configuration closely resembling a cake or bar of soap and it will be observed that a totally enclosed container is provided.

Of the utmost importance in practicing the invention are a plurality of slits 24. As best seen in FIGURE 4, the side walls 20 curve outwardly and the slits 24 are located in these side walls, there being a pair of such slits in each side wall. To some extent, the slit length will depend upon the wall thickness of the dispenser l0 and other dirensional characteristics. It will be appreciated that the slits 24 are preferably located in the side walls 20, because the user will logically apply pressure to the Walls 16 and 18 when using the dispenser, it being planned that the dispenser be used in the same manner as a cake of soap. Thus, the users hands will not cover or obstruct any of the slits 24. Also, with the slits 24 so located, the level of the liquid soap hereinafter specifically mentioned will be such that it will be above at least a portion of any slit no matter in what position the dispenser is held. Even with only a very small portion of the original amount of liquid soap remaining in the dispenser, the dispensing action is facilitated by the soap bubbles formed as a result of the unintentional shaking of the dispenser during use. It is important, though, that the slits 24 be normally closed and flexed into open position by gentle pressure being applied to the top and bottom walls 16, 18. Actually, it is preferable that the top and bottom walls 16, 13 also be outwardly curved as can be best viewed in FIG- URE 4. In this way, only a slight amount of deformation pressure need be applied to the walls 16, 18 in order to deform the dispenser 1t) sufficiently to open the slits 2-4.

The liquid soap contained in the dispenser has been indicated by the reference numeral as. There is no special requirement as to the type of soap, it being intended that ordinary liquid soap be utilized, whether it is of the detergent variety or not.

It is envisaged that the dispenser 18 be employed in the same manner that cake or bar soap is utilized. With this thought in mind, FIGURE 1 has been presented. The left hand 12 is shown in a substantially horizontal plane and therefore the dispenser It has been shown in a nearly horizontal position. With the users right hand 14 above the left hand 12, a slight downward pressure on the upper or top wall 16 will cause the slits 24 to be flexed open sufficiently to permit the discharge of the liquid soap 26 from the interior of the dispenser.

As the user rubs the dispenser 14) back and forth in the hands or on the body, a continuous lather is produced, the quantity of which can be varied by the degree of pressure applied by the user. Such a lather simulates that produced by cake or bar soap when scrubbing. In other words, any manipulation of the dispenser 10 by the user produces the same results which would be realized with bar type soap.

It should be made clear, though, that the orientation of the dispenser 10 is relatively unimportant. For instance, in FIGURE 5, the dispenser 10 is shown in a substantially vertical position, such a relationship resulting in one of the side walls being lowermost. This position facilitates the showing of the liquid 26 being discharged, a pair of droplets 28 being depicted, although for all intents and purposes a virtually steady but small stream of liquid soap 26 flows when the dispenser 10 is gently deformed. As soon as the user stops applying pressure, the slits 24 that have been forced open quickly return to their closed position and thereafter prevent the inadvertent or undesired escape of liquid soap 26 therethrough. In other words, it is only when the dispenser 10 is deformed that the slits 24 will allow the liquid soap 26 to pass therethrough; at all other times the flow of liquid is completely blocked.

Hence, from the foregoing information it will be appreciated that the user of my dispenser will employ it in the same fashion that ordinary soap is used.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A liquid soap dispenser comprising a resilient and deformable container of plastic material including top, bottom, end and side walls, all of said walls being of substantially the same thinness, said top and bottom walls presenting relatively large and smooth outer surfaces, which are imperforate, said end walls presenting smooth imperforate outer surfaces of a lesser area than said top and bottom walls, and said side walls being flexible and presenting smooth surfaces of a lesser area than said top and bottom Walls, said side walls each having a pair of normally closed slits disposed parallel to each other and arranged transversely with respect to said top and bottom walls, said slits extending completely through said side Walls from the outer surfaces thereof to the inner surfaces thereof, whereby when pressure is applied to said top and bottom walls said side walls will deform to cause said slits to flex open and thereby discharge liquid soap from said container.

2. A liquid soap dispenser in accordance with claim 1 in which said plastic material is polyethylene having a thickness of approximately inch and in which side walls curve outwardly.

3. A liquid soap dispenser in accordance with claim 2 in which said top and bottom walls also curve outwardly.

4. A liquid soap dispenser comprising a container of deformable plastic material having a top wall, a bottom wall and a smooth intermediate connecting wall of uniform thickness joined to said top and bottom walls to form a complete enclosure for liquid soap to be dispensed, said connecting wall being flexible and having normally closed slits therein extending in the direction of said top and bottom walls and coextensive with the thickness of said connecting wall so as to form outlets for said liquid soap when flexed open having a length equal to the thickness of said connecting wall, said transverse slits being the only slits forming said outlets and having a substantial spacing therebetween, and said top and bottom walls presenting relatively large surfaces compared with said connecting wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,887,447 11/1932 Balinger 1S543 X 2,748,988 6/1956 Fromson 222213 X 2,758,755 8/1956 Schafier 222-490 X 3,067,913 12/1962 Allison 222212 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,143,977 4/ 1957 France.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A LIQUID SOAP DISPENSER COMPRISING A RESILIENT AND DEFORMABLE CONTAINER OF PLASTIC MATERIAL INCLUDING TOP, BOTTOM, END AND SIDE WALLS, ALL OF SAID WALLS BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME THINNESS, SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS PRESSENTING RELATIVELY LARGE AND SMOOTH OUTER SURFACES, WHICH ARE IMPERFORATE, SAID END WALLS PRESENTING SMOOTH IMPERFORATE OUTER SURFACES OF A LESSER AREA THAN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, AND SAID SIDE WALLS BEING FLEXIBLE AND PRESENTING SMOOTH SURFACES OF A LESSER AREA THAN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, SAID SIDE WALLS EACH HAVING A PAIR NORMALLY CLOSED SLITS DISPOSED PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND ARRANGED TRANSVERSELY WITH RESPECT TO SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, SAID SLITS EXTENDING COMPLETELY THROUGH SAID SIDE WALLS FROM THE OUTER SURFACES THEREOF TO THE INNER SURFACES THEREOF, WHEREBY WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS SAID SIDE WALLS WILL DEFORM TO CAUSE SAID SLITS TO FLEX OPEN AND THEREBY DISCHARGE LIQUID SOAP FROM SAID CONTAINER. 